Tool-maker s ci-ajffp



A. GORDON. TOOL MAKER'SCLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR-28,1919.

1 ,321,7 34. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

awwwtoz ARGKETT GORDON, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

TOOL-MAKERS CLAMP.

Application filed. April 28, 1919.

T0 053? mil 2/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARCKETT GORDON, whose first papers have been granted as a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tool-Makers Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamps, particularly to those of the hand type, and has for its object the provision of a peculiarly constructed clamp whereby tools or other articles or materials may be held for any desired purpose.

An important object is the provision of a clamp of this character which embodies in its construction the advantages of a wedge and of a screw, both of these elements being included and cooperating with each other for exerting a firm clamping action.

An additional object is the provisionof a clamp of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efiicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1' is a front elevation of a clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, showing it at one limit of its adjustability Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in the same plane as Fig. 1 and showing the clamping jaws moved,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a frame which is trapezoidal in shape and open at one side, as shown at 11. The base of this frame is provided centrally with a threaded opening 12 through which is engaged a screw 13 having a head 14 provided with a trans verse opening 15 through which may be engaged a small rod or the like to serve as a handle for turning the screw.

The other arms 16 of the frame converge,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 293,281.

as shown, and are formed to provide guide recesses 17 having constricted entrance openings 18. .Disposed within the frame 10 are the clamping jaws 19, each of which has a straight inner face 20 and an inclined outer portion 21 of a size and shape to be conformingly received within the guides 17. At its end, each jaw 19 is provided with a lug 22 having a central transverse opening 23. When the jaws 19 are disposed properly within the frame the lugs 22 will be in alinement and will be disposed adjacent the base portion .of the frame.

Disposed within the frame is an operating member 24 through the central portion of which extends a reduced smooth extension 25 on the end of the screw 13 and the screw is swivelly mounted within this member 24 by means of a transverse staple 26 which extends through a pair of aws 27 in the member 24 and which engages within a peripheral groove 28 in the smooth extension 2 5. The member 24 further includes oppositely extending cylindrical arms 29 which are engaged within the transverse holes 23 in the lugs 22 on the jaws.

The operation of the clamp is as follows The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the jaws are open to their maximum extent. In order to clamp a tool, article, or piece of material, it is necessary that the operator place the article between the straight faces 20 of the jaws 19 and then turn the screw 18, by any desired means, whereupon the member 24 will be moved toward the smaller end of the frame and the arms 29 of this member 24 will of course move the aws 19 toward the smaller end of the frame. As the sides of the frame are inclined and as the outer faces of the jaws are correspondingly inclined, it will be obvious that this movement of the jaws will result in gradually bringing together their straight faces 20 into clamping engagement with any article disposed between the jaws. In view of the fact that a wedging action is produced it will be apparent that the jaws will grip any article with great force and will consequently firmly hold the same so as to prevent any possible displacement.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will be apparent that I have thus provided an extremely simple clamping device which will. be readily open claim a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the .right'to make such changes in the form,

construction, and arrangement of parts as willnot depart from the spirit of the i'nvention or the scope of the subjoinedl claim.

Having thus described my invention, 1

A device of the character described coniprising a frame, of trapezoidal shape with one side open and having its inclined sides provided with inclined guides cross-sha aal in cross section, a pair of jaws disposed within said frame and having their outer edges formed for conforming engagement within said guides and having their inner faces straight, lugs on the inner ends of said jaws provided with transverse cylindrical holes, a member disposed within said frame and including oppositely extending arms slidably engaged within said holes, and a screw threaded through the other side of said frame and swivelly connected with said member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARCKETT GORDON.

copieillot this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

f 7 Washington, D. G. 

